Jeff Ruby's Waterfront sitting on bottom of Ohio

Owner Jeff Ruby walks away after looking at the partially sunken Waterfront Restaurant, moored at C&B Marina in Boone County. He said he was unable to get aboard to see the damage. He also said he will not open another floating restaurant again.(Photo: The Enquirer/Patrick Reddy)Buy Photo

The Waterfront is currently docked at the C&B Marina in the 6700 block of River Road, where part of it is submerged and resting on the bottom of the shallow Ohio River.

"The last incident we nearly lost it, but we know that was an iceberg," Ruby said Tuesday afternoon upon arriving at the scene. "We don't know what caused this incident, but we're gonna find out before an employee dies."

The Riverfront Restaurant, moored at C&B Marina in Boone County, is sinking.
The Enquirer/Patrick Reddy

The last incident occurred in February, when a large chunk of ice hit the restaurant, knocking it free of its moorings. It had been towed to a spot in Covington Landing when the ice chunk impacted the restaurant, and it came to rest against a trestle of the Clay Wade Bailey Bridge. Maintenance worker Steve Poe was on board when it was struck.

The restaurant was towed downriver to Hebron, where it remains.

No one was on board the Waterfront on Tuesday morning.

The craft is listing about 40 degrees to starboard and resting on the bottom of the Ohio River, according to a spokesperson for the marina who declined to identify himself.

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Jeff Ruby's Waterfront restaurant is sinking into the Ohio River.(Photo: The Enquirer/Patrick Reddy)

In March 2011, the restaurant became partially unmoored from its spot at Pete Rose Pier and drifted about 100 feet downriver with 84 diners on board. It has been closed ever since.